Metropolitan Police (John Redgrave)

Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the disciplinary hearing of John Redgrave will be conducted by the Metropolitan police; and if he will make a statement. [145540]

Mr. Charles Clarke:
The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that a two-day preliminary hearing has been set for 8 and 9 March 2001, and that John Redgrave is aware of this.

Stray Horses

Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communications his Department has had with (a) Essex Police Authority, (b) Essex Fire Brigade and (c) Thurrock Borough Council about hazards presented by horses straying on to the highway. [146101]

Mr. Charles Clarke:
No communications, other than those necessary to establish the background to this question, have taken place.

Crime Statistics

Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the offences punishable by a fine at (a) level one, (b) level two, (c) level three, (d) level four and (e) level five on the standard scale. [146040]

Mr. Charles Clarke:
The information is not available in the form requested and could be produced in that form only at disproportionate cost. However, I am placing in the Library a copy of a booklet entitled "Criminal Statistics, Volume III, Part 1, Appendix 1, Part 1, For Court Proceedings and Cautions--2001 CODES" which lists, for each offence separately identified, the maximum sentence in both magistrates courts and the Crown court. The document does not list all offences since many, mainly summary, offences are grouped and their maximum sentences are not, therefore, separately identifiable.

Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for the most recent year for which figures are available, the number of convictions for each criminal offence which were punished by fine at level (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four, and (e) five on the standard scale. [146041]

Mr. Charles Clarke:
Limited available data, taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database are given in the table.

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 361W

Offences are grouped together by using the main Home Office classification definition, as produced within the more detailed "Criminal statistics, England and Wales,

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 362W

Supplementary tables", a copy of which I have placed in the Library. To try to identify by individual offence would be disproportionate to cost.

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 361W

Number of offenders fined for all offences at all courts by offence and amount of fine, England and Wales, 1999

Amount of fine

Offence description

Up to and including £200

Over £200 and up to and including £500

Over £500 and up to and including £1,000

Over £1,000 and up to and including £2,500

Over £2,500 and up to and including £5,000

Over £5,000

Total fined

3. Threat or Conspiracy to Murder

8

5

1

--

--

--

14

4-4. Causing Death by Dangerous Driving

--

1

3

--

2

--

6

5. Wounding or other Act Endangering Life

25

9

--

--

--

--

34

6. Endangering Railway Passenger

3

8

1

1

--

--

13

7. Endangering Life at Sea

--

--

1

--

1

--

2

8. Other Wounding etc.

3,496

766

83

23

1

--

4,369

11. Cruelty to or Neglect of Children

8

--

1

--

--

--

9

12. Abandoning Child aged under Two Years

1

--

--

--

--

--

1

13. Child Abduction

1

--

1

--

--

--

2

16. Buggery

1

1

--

--

--

--

2

17. Indecent Assault on a Male

4

8

--

1

--

--

13

18. Indecency between males

40

9

--

--

--

--

49

20. Indecent Assault on a Female

33

44

2

--

--

--

79

21. Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Girl under 13

1

--

--

--

--

--

1

22. Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Girl under 16

3

4

--

--

--

--

7

23. Incest

1

--

--

--

--

--

1

24. Procuration

4

2

3

--

2

--

11

26. Bigamy

2

1

--

--

--

--

3

27. Soliciting by a Man

9

1

--

--

--

--

10

28. Burglary in a Dwelling

223

52

3

2

--

--

280

30. Burglary in a Building Other than a Dwelling

684

127

8

2

--

--

821

33. Going equipped for stealing, etc.

343

22

1

1

--

--

367

34. Robbery

8

2

2

1

--

1

14

36. Kidnapping, etc.

--

--

--

1

--

--

1

37-2. Aggravated Vehicle Taking

140

46

4

1

--

--

191

39. Theft from the Person of Another

731

76

7

2

--

--

816

40. Theft in Dwelling not Automatic M/c or Meter

158

8

2

--

--

--

168

41. Theft by an Employee

321

81

4

1

1

--

408

42. Theft or Unauthorised Taking from Mail

21

1

--

--

--

--

22

43 Abstracting Electricity

236

17

3

1

1

--

258

44. Theft of Pedal Cycle

256

8

--

--

--

--

264

45. Theft from Vehicle

908

48

1

--

--

--

957

46. Theft from Shops

21,078

428

19

4

--

--

21,529

47. Theft from Automatic Machine or Meter

118

6

--

--

--

--

124

48. Theft or Unauthorised Taking of Motor Vehicle

137

16

1

--

--

--

154

49. Other Theft or Unauthorised Taking

3,730

227

15

--

1

1

3,974

52. False Accounting

84

38

5

--

1

4

132

53. Other Fraud

2,541

252

37

11

7

--

2,848

54. Handling Stolen Goods

2,568

329

41

11

8

1

2,958

55. Bankruptcy Offence

6

20

12

4

2

1

45

56. Arson

25

4

--

--

--

--

29

57. Criminal Damage Endangering Life

6

1

--

--

--

--

7

58. Other Criminal Damage

1,615

135

9

--

1

1

1,761

59. Threat etc., to commit Criminal Damage

65

5

1

--

--

--

71

60. Forgery etc. of Drug Prescription

22

4

1

--

--

--

27

61. Other Forgery etc.

354

87

11

6

1

1

460

65. Violent Disorder

15

16

7

--

--

--

38

66. Other Offence against the State or Public Order

594

304

48

11

5

--

962

67. Perjury

8

4

1

1

--

--

14

74. Gross Indecency with Children

1

--

1

--

--

--

2

75. Betting, Gaming and Lotteries

8

1

2

--

2

--

13

79. Perverting the Course of Justice

46

20

8

1

--

1

76

80. Absconding from Lawful Custody

7

4

--

--

--

--

11

81. Firearms Act Offence

305

95

17

2

--

--

419

82. Revenue Law Offence

2

7

4

4

1

--

18

83. Failing to Surrender to Bail

15,982

33

4

--

--

--

16,019

84. Trade Descriptions Act and Similar Offences

248

244

118

68

29

4

711

85. Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

37

102

125

208

194

242

908

86. Possession of Obscene Material etc.

74

35

17

3

1

--

130

87. Protection from Eviction Act 1977

3

3

--

2

2

--

10

89. Adulteration of Food

45

82

42

30

19

11

229

91. Public Health

175

164

94

92

51

25

601

94. Town and Country Planning Act 1990

63

72

43

31

22

4

235

99. Other (Excluding Motoring Offences)

268

218

114

129

69

43

841

99A. Dangerous Driving

359

325

109

17

2

--

812

99B. Fraud, Forgery etc. associated with Vehicle or Driver Records

3,161

339

43

9

1

--

3,553

a. Unlawful importation of Drugs-Class A

13

1

--

1

--

--

15

b. Unlawful importation of Drugs-Class B

28

11

2

--

--

--

41

c. Unlawful importation of Drugs-Class C

3

--

--

--

--

--

3

d. Unlawful importation of Drugs-Class unspecified

25

2

1

1

--

--

29

e. Unlawful exportation of Drugs-Class A

1

--

--

--

--

--

1

f. Unlawful exportation of Drugs-Class B

3

--

--

--

--

--

3

h. Unlawful exportation of Drugs-Class unspecified

4

--

--

--

--

--

4

i. Production, supply and possession with intent to supply a controlled drug-Class A

70

29

2

2

1

--

104

j. Production, supply etc.-Class B

747

106

28

6

1

--

888

k. Production, supply etc.-Class C

8

2

--

--

--

--

10

l. Production, supply etc.-Class unspecified

4

1

1

--

--

--

6

m. Possession of a controlled drug-Class A

3,677

542

26

12

1

--

4,258

n. Possession of a controlled drug-Class B

17,194

327

17

1

--

--

17,539

o. Possession of a controlled drug-Class C

66

--

--

--

--

--

66

p. Possession of a controlled drug-Class unspecified

27

--

--

--

--

--

27

q. Other drug offences

194

18

--

1

--

--

213

101. Adulteration of Food, Drug, etc.

2

2

1

--

--

--

5

104. Assault on Constable

3,836

288

18

1

--

--

4,143

105. Common assault, etc.

4,501

753

41

11

--

--

5,306

106. Betting or Gaming Offence

6

--

--

--

--

--

6

107. Brothel Keeping

6

12

4

1

--

--

23

108. Cruelty to Animal

332

113

37

17

6

--

505

110. Diseases of Animals Act

15

13

11

2

2

--

43

111. Offences Relating to Dogs

635

17

2

2

--

--

656

112. Education Acts

3,659

199

20

--

--

--

3,878

113. Explosives Acts

6

8

2

1

2

--

19

115. Firearms Acts

151

30

4

3

--

--

88

116. Fishery Acts

2,563

41

6

5

--

3

2,618

117. Friendly Societies Acts

--

3

1

--

--

--

4

118. Night Poaching

33

--

3

--

--

--

36

119. Day Poaching

207

34

--

--

--

--

241

120. Unlawful Possession of Game, etc.

5

--

--

--

--

--

5

121. Other Offence against Game Law

23

--

--

--

--

--

23

122. Obstruction Other than by Vehicle

660

40

5

1

--

--

706

123. Nuisance Other than by Vehicle

1,674

11

3

1

--

--

1,689

124. Other Highways Act Offence

179

54

8

--

--

--

241

125. Public Order Act 1986

15,401

1,105

48

4

2

1

16,561

126. Interference with Motor Vehicles

508

38

1

--

--

--

547

130. Unauthorised Taking of a Conveyance

928

113

6

--

--

1

1,048

131. Summary Aggravated Vehicle Taking

80

30

1

--

--

--

111

135. Horsedrawn Vehicle

30

3

2

1

--

--

36

136. Handcart or Barrow

--

1

--

--

--

--

1

137. Pedal Cycle

967

5

--

--

--

--

972

139 Indecent Exposure

97

25

--

--

--

--

122

140. Drunkenness, Simple

2,631

9

--

--

--

--

2,640

141. Drunkenness, with Aggravation

19,798

39

5

4

1

2

19,849

142. Offence by Licensed Person, etc.

182

78

8

1

--

--

269

143. Other Offence against the Liquor Law

91

21

7

3

--

--

122

144. Selling Tobacco to Juvenile

66

24

4

3

--

--

97

147 Employment of Children Acts

56

--

--

--

--

--

56

148. Other Offence against the Labour Law

1

--

1

--

--

--

2

149. Summary Criminal or Malicious Damage Offence

7,606

375

7

2

--

--

7,990

150. Merchant Shipping Acts

3

--

--

--

--

--

3

151. Social Security Offence

1,216

188

17

6

--

--

1,427

152. Social Security Act

1

--

--

--

--

--

1

153. Military Law-Army

5

--

--

--

--

--

5

155. Military Law-Air Force

--

--

2

--

--

--

2

156. Park, Common or Other Open Space Offence

731

3

1

1

--

--

736

160. Pedlars Act

95

--

--

--

--

--

95

161. Certain Local regulations-Allowing Chimney to be on Fire

1

--

1

--

--

--

2

162. Disorderly Behaviour

1,258

5

--

--

--

--

1,263

163. Playing in Street

120

5

--

--

--

--

125

164. Other Offence

4,305

185

31

3

3

--

4,527

165. Kerb Crawling

513

110

--

--

--

--

623

166. Offence by Prostitute

2,880

7

--

--

--

--

2,887

167. Aiding, etc. Offence by Prostitute

1

1

--

--

--

--

2

168. Public Health Offence

850

340

134

70

41

6

1,441

169. Railway Offence

14,428

206

5

2

--

1

14,642

170. Motor Vehicle Licence

140,878

14,745

699

74

37

9

156,442

172. Other Offence Against Revenue Law

5,095

949

62

20

9

1

6,136

173. Stage Carriage or Public Service Vehicle Offence

6,354

150

16

1

--

1

6,522

179. Sunday Trading, etc.

1

--

--

--

--

--

1

181. Unlawful Possession

11

11

3

1

1

--

27

182. Begging

1,300

1

--

--

--

--

1,301

183. Sleeping Out

14

--

--

--

--

--

14

185. Found in Enclosed Premises

160

5

1

1

--

--

167

188. Other Vagrancy Offences

3

--

--

--

--

--

3

189. Weights and Measures Acts

34

14

6

4

1

--

59

190. Wild Birds Protection Acts

46

56

5

2

--

--

109

191. Wireless Telegraphy Acts

48,746

5,982

66

--

1

9

54,804

192. Video Recording Act 1984

14

11

5

3

3

--

36

193. Drug Offence

1

1

--

--

--

--

2

194. Immigration Offence

6

4

1

--

--

--

11

195. Other Summary Offence (Excluding Motoring)

9,567

910

221

119

36

15

10,868

All summary motoring offences

435,173

103,106

25,756

1,107

62

54

565,258

of which:

Driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs:

34,535

24,436

2,946

364

16

1

62,298

Careless driving:

31,203

3,126

131

12

2

--

34,474

Accident offences:

4,071

876

36

--

--

1

4,984

Driving licence related offences:

13,665

718

117

25

4

7

14,536

Vehicle insurance offences:

98,958

36,308

17,568

411

8

17

153,270

Vehicle registration and excise licence offences:

8,523

653

35

12

5

6

9,234

Work record and employment offences:

3,714

1,215

231

19

6

--

5,185

Operator's licence offences:

552

651

275

4

--

1

1,483

Vehicle test offences:

19,797

147

31

6

2

--

19,983

Vehicle or part in dangerous or defective condition:

12,755

852

182

32

3

1

13,825

Speed limit offences:

118,262

24,099

2,534

17

7

13

144,932

Motorway offences (other than speeding):

1,180

157

3

--

--

--

1,340

Neglect of traffic directions:

23,844

1,112

71

1

1

--

25,029

Neglect of pedestrian rights:

4,044

59

2

--

--

--

4,105

Obstruction, waiting and parking offences:

13,538

352

84

1

1

1

13,977

Lighting offences:

3,762

22

2

--

--

--

3,786

Noise offences:

984

13

1

--

--

--

998

Load offences:

5,135

3,097

1,438

187

2

3

9,862

Offences peculiar to Motor Cycles:

172

--

--

--

--

--

172

Miscellaneous motoring offences:

36,479

5,213

69

16

5

3

41,785

Total all offences

824,228

136,485

28,445

2,182

637

443

992,420

Note:

For any given year it is not possible to eliminate all of the errors on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database. Hence the table may show offenders receiving fines in excess of the maximum sentence possible for the offences covered by a particular offence classification.

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 365W

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 365W

Paddy Ashdown:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the levels of crime in Somerset were for each of the years 1979 to 2000, broken down by the major categories of notifiable offences; and in each case what the clear-up rate was. [144647]

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 366W

Mr. Charles Clarke:
The information requested, for part of a police force area, is not held centrally. The details given in the tables have been provided by the Avon and Somerset constabulary, and are available for the years from 1993 onwards.

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 365W

Recorded crimes--Somerset

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1997-98(25)

1998-99(25) (old rules)

1998-99(25),(26) (new rules)

1999-2000(25)

Violence against person

1,337

1,746

1,938

2,183

2,514

2,872

3,004

3,598

3,592

Sexual offences

229

255

310

252

282

320

251

249

205

Burglary dwell.

4,027

3,492

3,796

4,033

3,106

3,116

2,626

2,623

2,955

Burglary other

6,163

5,068

4,544

4,267

4,301

4,369

4,205

4,218

4,309

Robbery

102

114

150

146

117

135

132

133

224

Theft and handling

22,288

21,800

20,401

19,963

18,419

18,321

16,676

17,027

16,822

Fraud and forgery

898

898

792

884

775

753

832

899

1,228

Criminal damage

5,241

6,347

5,877

6,161

5,537

5,858

6,333

6,624

6,596

Drugs

118

170

167

127

119

123

85

599

624

Other

78

101

85

107

91

102

177

295

296

Somerset Total

40,481

39,991

38,060

38,117

35,261

35,969

34,321

36,265

36,851

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 367W

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 367W

Clear-ups rate of recorded crime--Somerset

Percentage

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1997-98(25)

1998-99(25) (old rules)

1998-99(25),(26) (new rules)

1999-2000(27)

Violence against person

87

82

88

88

86

84

82

82

74

Sexual offences

79

82

84

91

74

74

77

78

72

Burglary dwell.

17

23

15

19

24

25

16

16

17

Burglary other

10

13

12

13

13

13

9

9

8

Robbery

34

38

36

41

32

24

25

25

20

Theft and handling

15

16

19

19

19

17

17

17

14

Fraud and forgery

49

54

53

62

53

50

58

59

36

Criminal damage

18

17

19

21

21

21

20

19

18

Drugs

104

96

101

102

92

94

99

95

96

Other

99

94

93

98

87

83

88

76

70

Somerset Total

19

21

23

24

25

25

24

26

23

(25) Year ending March

(26) Owing to the change in counting rules on 1 April 1998, figures before and after this date cannot be directly compared

(27) Owing to a change in the counting rules for clear-ups, figures before and after 1 April 1999 cannot be directly compared

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 367W

Paddy Ashdown:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the incidence of crime in (a) rural and (b) urban areas since May 1997. [144618]

Mr. Charles Clarke:
I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the question by the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) on 9 November 2000, Official Report, column 404W, and to the reply given to the question by my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Levitt) on 13 November 2000, Official Report, column 538W.

The replies to these questions provide information derived from the British Crime Survey (BCS) on the level and trends in rural and urban crime. BCS incident rates for crime show that over the last decade there has been consistently less crime in rural areas than urban areas. The BCS also shows that between 1997 and 1999 crime has declined, in proportionate terms, at a similar or greater rate in rural areas than in other areas.

For the purposes of BCS analyses, rural areas are identified by according ACORN--(A Classification of Residential Neighbourhoods) categories. ACORN classifies households according to the demographic, employment and housing characteristics of the surrounding neighbourhood. Rural areas are defined as those areas falling into Acorn types 1 to 9, and 27.

Source:

British Crime Survey 1992-2000.

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 368W

Tackling crime and the fear of crime in all areas, including rural areas, remains a high priority for this Government. Our approach in all areas is to assist the police and the local crime and disorder partnerships to address local crime effectively.

The Home Office announced on 15 June 2000 that rural police forces were to benefit this year from an additional £15 million from the police modernisation fund. The money rises to £30 million next year, and is intended to help the police to meet the extra costs involved in policing rural areas. The money is in addition to the crime fighting fund, which is providing for an increase in police numbers across the board. It will make a real difference to the policing and crime reduction in rural districts, in particular by helping to increase the visibility of the police in those areas.

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 369W

Paddy Ashdown:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in the United Kingdom have been unlawfully killed since 1971; and if he will make a statement. [144624]

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 370W

Mr. Charles Clarke:
The information requested for England and Wales is given in the table and relates to numbers of recorded crimes. Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 369W

Unlawful killings

Year

Homicide total

Child destruction

Causing death by reckless/dangerous driving(28)

Causing death by aggravated vehicle taking

Overall total

1970

393

0

685

0

1,078

1971

459

1

728

0

1,188

1972

476

0

753

0

1,229

1973

465

1

769

0

1,235

1974

600

2

654

0

1,256

1975

515

0

690

0

1,205

1976

565

0

595

0

1,160

1977

482

1

602

0

1,085

1978

532

2

313

0

847

1979

629

2

225

0

856

1980

620

2

235

0

857

1981

558

1

234

0

793

1982

618

0

269

0

887

1983

550

0

189

0

739

1984

621

0

223

0

844

1985

616

1

258

0

875

1986

661

0

232

0

893

1987

688

2

292

0

982

1988

624

8

339

0

971

1989

641

2

393

0

1,036

1990

669

0

419

0

1,088

1991

725

2

416

0

1,143

1992

687

0

277

19

983

1993

670

3

292

17

982

1994

726

7

278

14

1,025

1995

745

8

242

21

1,016

1996

679

2

320

34

1,035

1997

739

5

291

12

1,047

1997-98(29)

748

6

325

18

1,097

1998-99(29)

750

9

349

30

1,138

1998-99(29)

765

1

317

37

1,120

April-September 2000

445

0

169

23

637

(28) From 1 December 1997, the offences which qualified as causing death by reckless driving were reduced.

(29) Years ending March

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 369W

Paddy Ashdown:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have received mandatory minimum three year prison sentences for third-time domestic burglary, under the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997; and if he will make a statement. [144623]

Mr. Charles Clarke:
Under the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 (as re-enacted by the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000) which came into effect on 1 December 1999, a mandatory prison sentence of three years minimum duration was introduced for third-time domestic burglary offenders.

An offender would have to be apprehended, prosecuted and convicted on three separate occasions since 1 December 1999 to be subject to the mandatory sentence. Such action is likely to take some time.

The Home Office's court proceedings databases for 1999 and for the first three-quarters of 2000 (which are provisional) show that no such sentences have yet been recorded.

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 370W

Paddy Ashdown:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of notifiable offences were committed by young men between the ages of 14 and 24 years in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [144619]

Mr. Charles Clarke:
Details of the number of notifiable offences committed by age and sex of offender are not available.

However, information held centrally on the Home Office court proceedings database, showing the number of male offenders aged 14-24 who have been cautioned or convicted of indictable offences, is given in the table.

Males aged 14-24 cautioned and or convicted at all courts for indictable offences: numbers and as a proportion of all offenders, England and Wales, 1997 to 1999

Males aged 14-24

Total all offenders

Number

Percentage

Number

Percentage

1997

223,606

44

509,411

100

1998

228,349

43

533,456

100

1999

218,665

43

512,574

100

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 371W

Paddy Ashdown:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) violent crime offences, (b) car crime offences, (c) robberies, (d) burglaries, (e) thefts and (f) criminal damage offences there were per 1,000 head of population for each police force area within England and Wales in each of the last three years. [144622]

Mr. Charles Clarke:
The readily available information, for the calendar year 1997 and the financial years 1998-99 and 1999-2000, is given in the tables. Owing to the change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, the figures for the first year given are not directly comparable with the latter two years. The change in counting rules for recorded crime particularly impacted on violence against the person, which is included in the violent crime category.

Violent crime (violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery). Recorded offences per 100,000 population

Police force

1997

1998-99

1999-2000

Avon and Somerset

830

1,014

1,079

Bedfordshire

823

1,026

1,100

Cambridgeshire

584

872

980

Cheshire

468

776

675

Cleveland

609

762

769

Cumbria

644

1,199

1,107

Derbyshire

651

991

1,149

Devon and Cornwall

502

844

892

Dorset

372

484

584

Durham

396

883

968

Essex

382

620

749

Gloucestershire

371

688

871

Greater Manchester

847

1,774

1,982

Hampshire

554

809

988

Hertfordshire

335

446

509

Humberside

875

1,237

1,218

Kent

573

897

933

Lancashire

390

855

814

Leicestershire

739

1,261

1,397

Lincolnshire

566

772

701

Merseyside

784

1,112

1,294

Metropolitan Police District(30)

1,157

2,186

2,640

Norfolk

459

790

898

Northamptonshire

610

982

957

Northumbria

453

1,033

1,118

North Yorkshire

393

718

755

Nottinghamshire

993

1,387

1,588

South Yorkshire

472

629

719

Staffordshire

775

1,055

1,379

Suffolk

452

655

881

Surrey

394

626

775

Sussex

514

1,117

1,264

Thames Valley

416

623

788

Warwickshire

327

482

509

West Mercia

377

707

806

West Midlands

675

1,533

2,094

West Yorkshire

593

1,020

1,071

Wiltshire

487

832

848

Dyfed-Powys

525

1,054

1,218

Gwent

1,104

2,151

2,601

North Wales

483

787

952

South Wales

670

1,018

1,129

England and Wales

667

1,160

1,341

(30) Including the City of London

Car crime (theft of and from vehicles). Recorded offences per

100,000 population

Police force

1997

1998-99

1999-2000

Avon and Somerset

2,843

2,559

2,312

Bedfordshire

2,333

2,309

2,595

Cambridgeshire

2,182

1,858

1,729

Cheshire

1,362

1,267

1,237

Cleveland

2,842

2,573

2,342

Cumbria

1,469

1,316

1,098

Derbyshire

2,015

2,100

1,868

Devon and Cornwall

1,506

1,435

1,375

Dorset

1,689

1,789

1,653

Durham

1,827

1,653

1,502

Essex

1,472

1,463

1,332

Gloucestershire

2,471

2,002

1,838

Greater Manchester

3,232

3,390

3,412

Hampshire

1,587

1,386

1,319

Hertfordshire

1,854

1,528

1,432

Humberside

2,963

2,871

2,478

Kent

1,988

1,871

1,427

Lancashire

1,906

1,647

1,459

Leicestershire

2,154

2,211

2,039

Lincolnshire

1,238

1,121

1,103

Merseyside

1,993

2,146

2,394

Metropolitan Police District(31)

2,125

2,146

2,284

Norfolk

1,530

1,384

1,320

Northamptonshire

2,328

2,305

1,990

Northumbria

2,265

2,057

1,838

North Yorkshire

1,595

1,307

1,158

Nottinghamshire

2,806

2,612

2,396

South Yorkshire

2,728

2,553

2,264

Staffordshire

1,951

1,836

1,658

Suffolk

1,011

967

969

Surrey

1,160

906

948

Sussex

1,777

1,703

1,677

Thames Valley

2,412

2,351

2,404

Warwickshire

2,051

1,779

1,701

West Mercia

1,693

1,436

1,385

West Midlands

2,996

2,818

2,931

West Yorkshire

2,802

3,036

2,759

Wiltshire

1,268

1,128

1,090

Dyfed-Powys

498

519

460

Gwent

1,735

1,750

1,634

North Wales

1,206

1,106

1,141

South Wales

3,234

2,967

2,667

England and Wales

2,149

2,064

1,991

(31) Including the City of London

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 372W

Robbery. Recorded offences per 100,000 population

Police force

1997

1998-99

1999-2000

Avon and Somerset

106

124

160

Bedfordshire

97

96

110

Cambridgeshire

50

61

76

Cheshire

33

40

47

Cleveland

91

163

151

Cumbria

21

24

18

Derbyshire

41

52

60

Devon and Cornwall

25

30

31

Dorset

30

30

35

Durham

23

28

39

Essex

29

34

41

Gloucestershire

66

49

52

Greater Manchester

244

297

335

Hampshire

32

33

41

Hertfordshire

33

29

48

Humberside

85

95

108

Kent

46

45

53

Lancashire

59

69

74

Leicestershire

95

104

110

Lincolnshire

17

24

29

Merseyside

151

176

189

Metropolitan Police District(32)

362

346

473

Norfolk

24

28

38

Northamptonshire

69

73

78

Northumbria

88

94

97

North Yorkshire

27

23

29

Nottinghamshire

111

127

171

South Yorkshire

73

75

86

Staffordshire

47

48

66

Suffolk

21

21

33

Surrey

25

22

28

Sussex

46

63

68

Thames Valley

61

64

79

Warwickshire

29

34

44

West Mercia

26

31

32

West Midlands

255

278

384

West Yorkshire

128

146

146

Wiltshire

28

33

43

Dyfed-Powys

7

9

6

Gwent

28

31

39

North Wales

17

19

22

South Wales

41

41

42

England and Wales

121

128

161

(32) Including the City of London

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 373W

Burglary. Recorded offences per 100,000 population

Police force

1997

1998-99

1999-2000

Avon and Somerset

2,127

1,975

1,868

Bedfordshire

1,619

1,291

1,422

Cambridgeshire

1,801

1,791

1,720

Cheshire

1,362

1,336

1,301

Cleveland

2,946

2,973

2,808

Cumbria

1,400

1,181

1,107

Derbyshire

1,799

1,732

1,602

Devon and Cornwall

1,298

1,148

1,110

Dorset

1,237

1,338

1,225

Durham

2,008

1,666

1,494

Essex

1,078

985

976

Gloucestershire

2,078

1,808

1,670

Greater Manchester

2,944

3,079

2,924

Hampshire

1,166

1,125

1,060

Hertfordshire

1,082

958

989

Humberside

4,079

3,862

3,650

Kent

1,653

1,467

1,253

Lancashire

1,960

1,700

1,497

Leicestershire

2,022

1,853

1,683

Lincolnshire

1,713

1,656

1,720

Merseyside

1,849

1,875

1,819

Metropolitan Police District(33)

1,869

1,633

1,685

Norfolk

1,407

1,297

1,296

Northamptonshire

1,884

1,993

1,835

Northumbria

2,411

2,211

1,856

North Yorkshire

1,546

1,523

1,401

Nottinghamshire

2,903

2,789

2,565

South Yorkshire

2,870

2,635

2,485

Staffordshire

2,228

1,923

1,805

Suffolk

921

936

926

Surrey

965

883

844

Sussex

1,399

1,407

1,297

Thames Valley

1,521

1,474

1,486

Warwickshire

1,658

1,601

1,528

West Mercia

1,461

1,299

1,260

West Midlands

2,930

2,685

2,617

West Yorkshire

3,209

3,205

2,787

Wiltshire

1,072

1,023

944

Dyfed-Powys

543

547

432

Gwent

1,646

1,511

1,374

North Wales

1,152

1,102

1,048

South Wales

2,203

1,916

1,625

England and Wales

1,952

1,826

1,729

(33) Including the City of London

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 374W

Theft and handling stolen goods (includes theft of and from vehicles). Recorded offences per 100,000 population

Police force

1997

1998-99

1999-2000

Avon and Somerset

5,093

4,875

4,778

Bedfordshire

4,305

4,089

4,516

Cambridgeshire

4,555

4,486

4,456

Cheshire

2,839

2,742

2,758

Cleveland

5,614

5,713

5,442

Cumbria

3,304

3,354

2,980

Derbyshire

3,604

3,806

3,713

Devon and Cornwall

3,125

3,209

3,116

Dorset

3,382

3,490

3,423

Durham

3,391

3,341

3,264

Essex

3,024

2,913

2,950

Gloucestershire

4,630

4,196

4,242

Greater Manchester

5,168

5,641

5,668

Hampshire

3,519

3,262

3,282

Hertfordshire

3,035

2,631

2,659

Humberside

6,094

6,543

5,839

Kent

3,827

3,660

3,323

Lancashire

3,823

3,504

3,116

Leicestershire

4,046

4,134

4,011

Lincolnshire

3,261

3,120

3,138

Merseyside

4,120

4,177

4,415

Metropolitan Police District(34)

4,903

5,090

5,604

Norfolk

3,511

3,281

3,247

Northamptonshire

4,215

4,751

4,248

Northumbria

4,209

4,357

4,081

North Yorkshire

3,542

3,472

3,277

Nottinghamshire

5,398

5,800

5,872

South Yorkshire

4,606

4,389

4,221

Staffordshire

3,624

3,576

3,649

Suffolk

2,562

2,565

2,596

Surrey

2,497

2,284

2,401

Sussex

3,743

3,873

3,949

Thames Valley

4,161

4,296

4,580

Warwickshire

3,621

3,506

3,419

West Mercia

3,420

3,234

3,198

West Midlands

4,793

4,788

5,338

West Yorkshire

5,143

5,466

5,236

Wiltshire

2,834

2,804

2,766

Dyfed-Powys

1,501

1,612

1,538

Gwent

3,542

3,722

3,539

North Wales

2,644

2,657

2,684

South Wales

5,001

4,669

4,356

England and Wales

4,163

4,197

4,241

(34) Including the City of London

Criminal damage. Recorded offences per 100,000 population

Police force

1997

1998-99

1999-2000

Avon and Somerset

1,390

1,394

1,378

Bedfordshire

1,462

1,429

1,446

Cambridgeshire

1,315

1,674

1,682

Cheshire

1,143

1,181

1,283

Cleveland

2,022

1,922

1,943

Cumbria

1,640

1,708

1,814

Derbyshire

1,392

1,483

1,568

Devon and Cornwall

987

1,142

1,186

Dorset

1,209

1,208

1,216

Durham

1,730

1,828

1,753

Essex

1,245

1,237

1,420

Gloucestershire

1,107

1,175

1,434

Greater Manchester

2,644

2,607

2,918

Hampshire

1,508

1,424

1,588

Hertfordshire

1,139

1,168

1,316

Humberside

2,275

2,429

2,348

Kent

1,544

1,472

1,575

Lancashire

1,879

1,499

1,596

Leicestershire

1,513

1,630

1,819

Lincolnshire

1,160

1,248

1,347

Merseyside

1,667

1,943

2,187

Metropolitan Police District(35)

1,861

1,800

1,977

Norfolk

1,259

1,327

1,389

Northamptonshire

1,919

1,929

1,906

Northumbria

2,461

2,212

2,135

North Yorkshire

1,162

1,135

1,161

Nottinghamshire

2,730

2,321

2,297

South Yorkshire

1,806

1,855

1,940

Staffordshire

1,605

1,478

1,738

Suffolk

1,184

1,185

1,423

Surrey

844

966

1,093

Sussex

1,627

1,602

1,759

Thames Valley

1,238

1,247

1,364

Warwickshire

1,271

1,368

1,468

West Mercia

1,339

1,363

1,532

West Midlands

1,859

1,916

2,337

West Yorkshire

2,202

2,333

2,276

Wiltshire

965

1,109

1,181

Dyfed-Powys

943

941

921

Gwent

1,788

2,099

2,199

North Wales

1,713

1,471

1,537

South Wales

2,380

2,445

2,272

England and Wales

1,686

1,685

1,804

(35) Including the City of London

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 375W

Offences per police officer, year ending 30 September 2000(36)

Police force area

Offences per officer

Avon and Somerset

50

Bedfordshire

50

Cambridgeshire

54

Cheshire

32

Cleveland

46

Cumbria

32

Derbyshire

47

Devon and Cornwall

37

Dorset

40

Durham

30

Essex(37)

37

Gloucestershire

44

Greater Manchester

55

Hampshire

40

Hertfordshire(37)

30

Humberside

60

Kent

40

Lancashire

34

Leicestershire

46

Lincolnshire

40

London, City of

10

Merseyside

36

Metropolitan Police(37)

41

Norfolk

42

Northamptonshire

52

Northumbria

36

North Yorkshire

40

Nottinghamshire

63

South Yorkshire

40

Staffordshire

48

Suffolk

39

Surrey(37)

26

Sussex

49

Thames Valley

50

Warwickshire

40

West Mercia

42

West Midlands

51

West Yorkshire

54

Wiltshire

32

Dyfed-Powys

22

Gwent

45

North Wales

33

South Wales

39

Total

43

(36) Based on number of offences for year ended 30 September 2000, and numbers of police officers as at 31 March 2000.

(37) Based on estimated number of offences had pre-1 April 2000 boundaries been in effect.

18 Jan 2001 : Column: 376W

Paddy Ashdown:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the proportion of people released from prison in England and Wales in each of the last five years who reoffended within two years; and if he will make a statement. [144644]

Mr. Charles Clarke:
Information on reoffending rates is not available.

However, it is estimated that 57 per cent. of people released from prison in England and Wales during the first quarter of 1997 were reconvicted for a standard list offence within two years of release.

Paddy Ashdown:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notifiable offences were committed in Avon and Somerset within the last two years by people released from prison under early release schemes; and if he will make a statement. [144643]

Mr. Boateng:
There are two statutory early release schemes:

Parole: prisoners serving a sentence of four years or more are entitled to be considered for discretionary conditional release on parole licence at the halfway point of their sentence. Those who are refused parole are released automatically at the two thirds point of their sentence on non-parole licence. Information about prisoners who are released on parole licence and who commit a further offence during the currency of that licence is not currently held centrally.

Home Detention Curfew: most prisoners serving a sentence of less than four years and more than three months are eligible to be considered for the home detention curfew scheme, which commences up to 60 days before the halfway point of the sentence. Information about prisoners who are subject to the scheme, who have been released to an address in either Avon or Somerset and who have committed an offence during the currency of the scheme is not immediately available. The Prison Service has made further inquiries of the electronic monitoring contractors for the South West of England and I will write to the right hon. Member with this information as soon as it is available. A copy will be placed in the Library.

Early release schemes are designed to ensure a better transition between custody and the community. Prisoners are only placed on the schemes after a careful risk assessment, in which the overriding concern is the safety of the public.